Lead Analyst (Youth Employment and Opportunities)
2 year Fixed Term Contract
Job purpose
This Lead Analyst role has a focus on youth employment and opportunities. The postholder will drive the delivery of strategic analysis to inform strategy and policy as well as understand delivery across the seven priorities within the GMCA Youth Employment and Opportunities Strategic Framework: improving careers provision, quality workplace experiences, integrated technical education, inclusive youth employment, digital services, and the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc). This role will also be a key enabler to the analytical function that underpins the Mayor’s Greater Manchester Baccalaureate priority by delivering the data and analysis required to inform, understand and respond.
This is an exciting time to join the team. We are working to support and help young people to actively participate and thrive in the economy. We are doing this by building on their ambitions, qualities and skills in order for them to have fair access to the opportunities available across the sub-region.
Key information
This is a fixed 24-month opportunity with a view to this being extended further subject to further approval of programme-level funding. Secondments are welcomed from all organisations. This role allows both flexible and hybrid working. It is anticipated that the post holder will spend at least one day per week in the Manchester city centre office, however full time remote working with occasional travel would be considered.
Key relationships
This role will benefit from being part of a community of analysts and with opportunities for technical development as well as being well positioned to see the impact of analysis work and delivery, with the work interfacing with both policy and local delivery.
The role will be based within the GMCA Research team but the postholder will be embedded within, and deliver directly to, the Youth Employment and Opportunities team, which is based within the Education, Work and Skills directorate at the GMCA. These teams operate from the same Manchester office.
The postholder will be expected to interact with colleagues in wider policy, strategy and delivery teams, and work in close collaboration with research and analysis specialists both within and outside of the GMCA.
About you
This opportunity relates to one of our Lead Analyst positions (a step up from our early career positions) so the right person for the job will have previous experience of undertaking research and analysis from either academic study or wider work experience. You will have a degree or necessary equivalent skills from your work experience and will be able to demonstrate at least 12 months experience applying your research and analysis skills in a relevant environment.
This is a grade 6 role. The role profile spans three grades with progression opportunities between the grades based on skills and experience. Responsibilities for each grade and expected skills and experience are set out in the role profile.
The core responsibilities of this role will include:
* developing and delivering quantitative strategic analysis and intelligence on the seven priorities of the GMCA Youth Employment and Opportunities Strategic Framework
* conducting analysis, developing reports and providing ongoing intelligence to monitor the delivery and outcomes of the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate
* identifying new opportunities for analysis and evidence-based storytelling approaches that can enhance our evidence base to inform strategy, policy and delivery
* supporting non-technical colleagues to utilise and embed evidence within decision making
* designing, developing and maintaining local data collections
* maintaining and developing GM CASIO (Greater Manchester Combined Authority Schools Internal Observatory), our internal interactive platform that brings together all data for relevant colleagues.
Essential skills and experience
The role profile sets out in full the skills and experience of all Lead Analysts in the GMCA Research team. In your application, please clearly set out how your skills and experience meet the essential skills and experience of the role profile at grade 6, paying particular attention to the five areas set out below. Applications for this specific role will be assessed principally against these four areas, with supplementary consideration of the specified desirable skills and experience also listed. Please write no more than 1,500 words.
1. Excellent ICT skills, especially:
* Strong proficiency in data analysis and/or data dashboard applications
2. Strong analytical capacity and experience of data collection, especially:
* Experience of preparing and analysing complex datasets, including locally collected and/or new datasets (for example, including data cleaning, data quality assurance and data linkage)
3. Strong interpersonal / communication skills with an attention to detail, especially:
* Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences
* Ability to identify areas for future improvements in work
4. Physical responsibility, especially:
* Experience of managing data tools and assets, and advising others on their use
5. Relationship management, especially:
* Experience of working with end users of analysis and ensuring that the data work, research and/or analysis produced meets their needs.
Desirable skills and experience
* Experience of supporting non-technical colleagues to utilise and embed evidence within decision making
* Ability to develop new approaches to data analytics and visualisation techniques.
Recruitment stages
Candidates successfully sifted at application stage will be invited to interview. All candidates invited to interview will be required to complete a short pre-interview assessment which will be sent to them 48 hours in advance of the interview to be returned within 24 hours. The pre-interview assessment will require candidates to use a dataset and will test technical competency and problem solving.
The scored section of the interview will entail a question and answer section in relation to the pre-interview assessment followed by competency based questions to assess candidates against the same five criteria within the job advert as at application stage.
About us:
As an employer, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is made up of a number of key Greater Manchester strategic functions and service providers. We value the diversity of our employees, and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, Trans status and Non-binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Our offer:
We are committed to offering training and development. In relation to this role, this is expected to include:
* Eligibility to the lead analyst progression framework, which spans up to grade 8
* Being part of a wider team of around 40 research managers, lead analysts and analysts
* Membership of one of the GMCA’s research specialism networks: quantitative, qualitative or appraisal and evaluation
* Access to the ONS Learning Hub training platform (as used by the Government Statistical Service)
* Sharing an office with the rest of the GMCA along with the Office for National Statistics and NHS Population Health.
Mandatory Information:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. However, we value human talent and are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation. Please ensure you personally complete your application and read all the instructions carefully to maximise your chances of success.
Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.
For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licenced sponsor.
This role is part of GMCA’s hybrid working scheme. As part of our commitment to ‘Build Back Fairer’ in Greater Manchester following the Covid-19 pandemic, we have evolved our management methods by trusting and empowering staff to deliver their work in the best way that suits the business and their individual needs, and supports health and wellbeing.
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